Unite, the UK’s leading union, has said the council’s decision to now cut bin lorry drivers' pay shows an escalation in the dispute and the council's real plans to use workers' pay as a way to cut costs. 

Council taking money off workers

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Today’s actions show clearly that Unite has been correct all along. Birmingham City Council is taking money off workers to pay off their debt to the government. Workers are again paying the price for bad decision after bad decision.

Indeed the West Midlands Labour Mayor Richard Parker has let the cat out of the bag “the strikes are a consequence of being asked to do more with less'' he said.

Savage pay cuts

Sharon Graham continued: “Unite will not stand by and allow the council and this Labour government to inflict these savage  pay cuts on workers. It is completely unjustified and a clear escalation of the dispute. It  will not be accepted. No worker should be expected to lose these eye-watering amounts of money from their pay packet.' 
 
“The government has protected a Labour council that has been treating workers in this outrageous way. It is no wonder Labour is increasingly not seen as the party of workers. They should hang their heads in shame.'
 

Council plan to cut drivers' pay

Under the council’s plans the pay rate of drivers will reduce from £40,000 to £32,000, a pay cut of £8,000, a fifth of their income.
 
Last week Unite said that it believed that a deal to end the long running bin strike could be “within touching distance” provided the council did not cut the pay of drivers.
 
The council’s decision to cut the pay of bin drivers, exposes public statements made by council leader John Cotton that no worker “need lose pay” as a lie.
 
Unite is calling on John Cotton, leader of the council to be present at the ACAS talks. He can hide no longer. 

 The Labour government has a clear role  in this dispute. The council’s financial problems are directly linked to its £3.9 billion debt, which is owned by the government. If the government restructured or reduced the debt the council would not need to cut workers’ pay.
 

Council leader should stop lying to public

Sharon Graham added: “John Cotton has said 'no worker needs to lose pay'. Therefore, he needs to be at Acas talks this week and turn this comment into reality or step down for lying to the public.
 
“Also the government who owns the council debt and are profiteering from it, cannot simply sit on its hands. If this was any other employer apart from a Labour council, they would be calling them out for slashing workers’ pay.
 

Council playing games

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Today’s announcement makes it clear the council have been playing games. It has had no intention of resolving this dispute and protecting workers, this is all about cutting workers’ pay and plunging them into financial misery.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
 
For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.
 
Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org
 
Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org
 
Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham